Washing-machine mechanism



May 7, 1929. A. G. LARsoN 1,711,955

WASHING MACHINE uEcHANIsu Filed .june 21'?, 1927 f INVENToR.

A TTORNE YS.

Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED' sTATESi PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT e. LARSON, orV Pinnivronr, CALIFORNIA, AssIeNon To LYDIA r.y LARsonL'L WASHING-MACHINE MECHANISM.

`lltpplcation iiled .Tune 27, 1927; ySerial No.7201,737.-

`This invention relates to lclothes washing machines and the like, and especially to improvcments in washing machines of the plunger actuated type. Y y v ,'lhere area number of so-called plunger typeactuated washing'machines,see for in stance, the type disclosed in the patent to E.

Lindberg, 1,523,027, issuedJanuary 13,1925,

in which a rotary and reciprocal movement is transmitted to the plunger. It has been foundby practical experience that machines of this character are not altogether satisfactory as the rotary movement taken by the plunger tends to pile the clothing in one end of the tub after the washing operation ceases, thereby requiring more or less constant attention and redistribution of the clothing by the operator in order to insure thorough washing of all'of the clothing.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of machines of the character described; to provide a plunger movement whereby piling up of the clothing is entirely eliminated; and further to provide a pair of plungers which cooperate to increase the efficiency of the washing operation and at the same time reducing the time usually required to wash certain fabrics. The washing maV chine mechanism is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings yin which: V

Fig. l is a side elevation of the washing machine mechanism showing it in position on` a wash tub,

Fig. 2 is an end view of the washing ma chine mechanism, said View being partially in section. i

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly Fig. l, A indicates a base plate which is adapted to be supported on the upper edge of a wash tub such as indicated at B. Mounted on the base plate is a driving motor C, and connected therewith is a reduction gear drive generally indicated at D. The reduction gear drive connects with a worm pinion gear 2 which is secured on a motor shaft 3. VThis pinion meshes with a worm gear l secured on a shaft 5. The shaft is journalled in the housing D and projects through one side thereof, and a crank 6 is secured on the outer end of the shaft. -Pivotally mounted as at 7 is a rocker arm or beam 8, and connecting said beam with the crank 6 is a. connecting rod 9. Adjustably fixed as at l0 in bearings at the outer or free ends of the beam `8 are plunger rods 11v and mounted on the lower ends-thereof are plung er cupsl of'suitable construction.` .TheA bearings for the plunger rods are arranged.

tangential to aniarc described about the central pivotal support of the said rocker arnr beam 8. 1 In actual operation the power` of the pmotor is transmitted through the yshaft 3 and the V reduction gears 2 andra to continuously rotate f the shaft k5 and the crank-arm() inthe direction of arrow a. This continuous rotation ofthe crank-arm is transmitted through the connecting rod 9 to rockthe beam 8 and the plunger rods and cups carried thereby so that they alternately assume the dotted line positions indicated at 8a and 8b. Each cup is thus alternately raised and lowered with relation to the water and the clothes in the tub, and this movement causes the water to be circulate-d back and forth through the meshes of the fabric to wash the same. The plungers, during upward movement, swing away from the center of the. tub, and conversely, during downward movement swing toward `the center of the tub. The plunger indicated at l2SL thus has a tendency to move the clothing in thepdirection of arrow b into a position where it will be engaged by the plunger l2 during its downward stroke, and the plunger 12 in turn tends to move the clothes towards the plunger 12a in the direction of arrow c during its downward stroke. In other words, each plunger tends to move the clothes under the other plunger or towards the center of the tub and the clothing is thus placed in a position where it is most veiiciently acted upon by the plungers. The clothing is at the same time shifted back and forth through the water and further washing action is obtained due to the iiow of the water through the fabric. The efficiency of the machine is further increased by the use of the two plungers as two plunger kstrokes are obtained during each revolution of the crank 6L where only one plunger action is obtained in the usual type of single acting plunger machines.

The time required to wash a certain quantityv be shifted inwardly or outwardly on the beam. Thus the plunger stroke may be increased or decreased to suit varying conditions.

While certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically described,`

I wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, various materials and finishes of the several parts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. An agitator for washing machines comprising a bar constituting a rocker arm, a central pivotal support for said bar, bearings carried by the free ends of the bar and arranged tangentially to an arc described about the central pivotal support, and plunger cups having rods adjustably iixed in said bearings. Y

2. An agitator for washing machine comprising a bar constituting a rocker arm, a. central pivotal support for said bar, hearings carried by the free ends of the bar and arf ranged tangentially to an arc described about the rcentral pivotal support, plunger cups having rods adjustably fixed in said bearings, a crank shaft disposed above the central piv otal support of the bar, a link connected at its upper end to the crank shaft, and a con ne'ction between the lower end of the link and the bar, said connection being at a point intermediate of one of the rods and a pivotal support of the arm.

ALBERT G. LARSON. 

